Ailes suffered a fall days before his death, hitting his head and causing severe bleeding. He was hospitalized after his fall. He died from bleeding on the brain caused by the fall, medical examiners said.

Drudge Report made the initial announcement of Ailes' death, releasing a statement Thursday morning from his wife, Elizabeth Ailes.

"Roger was a loving husband to me, to his son Zachary, and a loyal friend to many," she said in the statement. "He was also a patriot, profoundly grateful to live in a country that gave him so much opportunity to work hard, to rise and to give back. During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions. And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life."

Former Fox News personalities Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson both alleged that Ailes had made inappropriate sexual advances toward them.

Ailes oversaw the founding of Fox News. The network's owner and media mogul Rupert Murdoch hired Ailes in 1996 to build the network from the ground up. Before that Ailes worked as an executive for NBC and as a political strategist and consultant for Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

By focusing on conservative news coverage and visual presentation, he went on to build one of the highest-rated news networks of all time.

The former GOP staffer never fully exited the realm of politics. Besides leading an ideologically-driven news network, he also remained in close contact with Republican presidents.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York City, Ailes offered his advice to former President George W. Bush. He was a debate coach for President Donald Trump during his successful campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

President Donald Trump visited a Florida community reeling from a deadly school shooting, meeting privately with victims and cheering the heroics of first responders, but extending few public words of consolation...More >>

President Donald Trump visited a Florida community reeling from a deadly school shooting, meeting privately with victims and cheering the heroics of first responders, but extending few public words of consolation to those in deep mourning.More >>